Carpet-sewing machine.



PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

D. W. ROBINSON. CARPET SEWING MACHINE s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

[WVE/VTOR APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19.1905.

WIZZWESSES PATENTED JULY 17, 1906.

\ D. W. ROBINSON.

CARPET SEWINGMAGHI APPLIO ATION FILED JUNE 19,1905.

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[WVEWTOR WITNESSES Ma 27. @M

@M/ w WEW THE NORRIS PEYERS cc., WASHINGTON, D. c.

D. W. ROBINSON.

CARPET SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19,1905.

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' [WVEWTOR li PATENTED JULY1'7, 1906.

DWIGHT W. ROBINSON, OF ALBION, MICHIGAN.

CARPET-SEWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17,1906.

Application filed June 19,1906. Serial No, 265.376.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DWIGHT W. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albion, county of Calhoun, State of Michigan, have inventeda certain new and useful Tmprovement in Carpet-Sewing Machines; and Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the,invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to machines for stitching together lengths ofcarpet.

It has for its object certain improvements in the mechanism intended andadapted to permit the sewing together of adjacent edges without causingadditional and undesirable thickness of the fabric along the line ofunion and the overcasting of cut edges where there is noprotecting-selvage.

The class of machines to which the invention is particularly adaptableis the now well-known saddle type, which is designed to be hung upon andsupported by the up wardly-presented edges of the strips of carpet to beunited. In the machines of this type which have heretofore beendeveloped the needle has been confined in its reciprocation to a singlehorizontal plane, which resulted in a perfectly straight line ofstitching, which in order to unite the adjacent edges of carpet had topenetrate both pieces of fabric at an appreciable distance from the edgeof each. When on the completion of the work the united piece wasstretched out upon the floor, the double thickness of the fabricseparated and spaced from that part which was to lie flat upon the floorby the straight line of stitching caused an undesirable hump or ridge.By the use of the attachment hereinafter described this Ohjectionablefactor is obviated and a more perfect and sightly union of the pieces offabricis effected.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a carpet-sewing machine ofthis type provided with my improved needle-reciprocating attachment.Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the swinging needle-arm and itsrelated parts looking in the opposite direction from that in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the inner face of the driving gear-wheeland its relation to the needle-controlling lever and the powerpinionmeshing therewith. Figs. 4, 5,6, and 7 show the different types ofstitch which may be made, as well as variations in the length of each.Fig. 8 is a detail view from the opposite side of the machine from thatshown in Fig. 1, showing the relation of the needle-controlling leverand the button or latch by means of which it may be held from verticalreciprocation. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the circular cap 8 andconnected parts and the gearwheel 5 with which it meshes. Fig. 10 is anelevation showing the hinged portion of the rim of the circular cap.

The framework of the machine consists, essentially, of'two sections Fand F, which are joined by the yoke Y and by the transverselyextendingshaft S between the two sections. The operator guides the machine bymeans of the handle 2. The edges of carpet whose union is desired arethrust therebetween until their further upward progress is resisted bythe yoke Y, or, more properly, the guide-piece 41, which dependsfronithe yoke, and the feed-roller 2, which is carried on a sleeve whichincloses a part of the length of the shaft S directly over the spacelyin between the sections F and F. The perip cry of this feed-roller isserrated, so that as itis rotated the teeth engage in the edge of thecarpet and advance it, its speed being predetermined with reference tothe length of stitch desired. On the outer end of the shaft S, lookingin the direction of Fig. 1, is fixed a pulley 3. A belt or chain Btravels over this to a small sprocket-wheel 37 on the face of thebalance-wheel W, whichis carried upon the lower part of the section F ofthe frame.

The driving gear-wheel G (shown in detail in Fig. 3) is rotated by meansof the crank C and causes the wheel L, which is carried on the innere'nd of the shaft and meshes with it, to rotate. The driving gear-wheelG also meshes with a wheel R, which is carried'by the upper end of avertical shaft in the section F of the. frame. The top of this wheelcarries a circular cap 8, whose periphery is thinned to an extentsuflicient to pass between the teeth of a gear-wheel 5, which is carriedabout the middle of the shaft S. Both it and the feed-roller 2 arerigidly attached to a sleeve9, through which the shaft S passes,thusenabling the feed-roller and this gear-wheel to have movementindependent ofthe speed of rotation of the shaft. riphery of this cap,preferably about onesixth, is cut away, so as to be independent of andremovable from the rest of the periphery. This portion 7 of the cap ishinged at one end at or just below its peripheral edge to the remainderof the cap, while the other end may be raised or lowered within thelimits set by the size of the slot 14 and screw 15, so as to becontinuous with the solid portion of the periphery or to terminateslightly below the same when dropped. from this position. The purposeand function of this arrangement is to regulate the speed with which themachine is operated and the fabric is advanced, and consequently thelength of stitch at each reciprocation of the sewing mechanism. If thissector 7 is continuous with'the remainder of the periphery of the cap,it meshes with the gear-Wheel 5 and does not cause it to rotate at all.If, however, a stitch of ordinary length is desired, the slotted end isdropped to a lower position. As this portion passes through thegear-wheel 5 (the rotation of this cap, as shown in Fig. 1, beingcontra-clockwise) it serves to force the periphery of this wheel downand around the distance occupied by one of the teeth in its periphery,and consequently causes the feed-roller 2 to rotate so much more. If astill longer stitch is desired, the unhinged end of this sector isdropped still lower, so that as it engages in the gear-wheel 5 it throwsit around still farther at each rotation.

The arm T is pivoted or hinged to the rear portion of the frame at 32 insuch a way as to extend over the cap 8 with the cam-slot directly oversaid cap and with the pin 17 projecting upward therethrough from thesurface of the cap 8. Because of the shape of this cam-slot anintermittent oscillatory motion is imparted to it upon the rotation ofthe cap 8 in the manner heretofore described.

In the foreground of Fig. 1 there is shown upon the section F of theframe a pair of horizontal track-bars 22, upon which oscillates theneedlecarri er 23, from whose upper surface a pin 18 projects throughthe outer end of the slot in the arm T. By this means a reciprocatingmotion is imparted to the needlecarrier, from the inner face ofwhichthat is, proj ecting toward the center of the machine extends theneedle 19, which is periodically driven lengthwise across the spacebridged by the yoke Y and substantially beneath the yoke through thestrips of carpet held therebetween. ment of the carrier the needle isdrawn well away from this space. In the outer face of thisneedle-carrier is a vertical groove 20, in which reciprocates thatportion of the needlecarrier which actually carries the needle, butwhich, except for its connection with the main body of the carrier, isnot connected With the cam-slot in the lever T. One portion A portion ofthe pe- On the extreme retroactive moveof this needle-holding part isalso arranged to slide in a horizontal track or runway 24, which iscarried by standard 24, whose base slidably engages in vertical shafts39, bored in the frame-piece F. This runway is also pivotally connectedto and actuated by the end of the lever 27, through whose pivoted endpasses the shaft S. At the rear end of the machine a spring whichengages this fixed end (not shown in the drawings) operates to maintainthis lever in a horizontal position when not under stress of thecam-piece 31, hereinafter described, and so that the lever 24 and thevertical slidable portion of the needle-carrier which it supports arekept at the upward limit of their possible movement. This position ismaintained during the halfrevolution ofthe actuating-crank C, the sizeof the intermediate gear-wheel being proportioned to this end. Duringthe other half of the revolution of the crank C, however, a pin 29,provided with an antifriction-roller projecting from the said lever 27,as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, engages a cam-piece 31 on the inner face ofthe periphery of the driving gear-wheel G and which at this point hasreached the top of its plane of travel and together with the lever isdepressed by its contact therewith. This of course causes also thedepression of the runway and the slidable portion of the needlecarrier,so that as the needle-carrier is again driven by the enforcedoscillation of the lever T the needle is advanced at the lowerlevel withrelation to the yoke Y and the remaining portion of the machine, andthis locates the next stitch at a point one-quarter to one-half an inchout of line with that line of stitches placed by the needle at itshighest stroke. The gear-wheel G and the wheel R are so proportioned asto size that two revolutions of the wheel R and its cap 8 take place toone revolution of the gear-wheel G and its actuating-crank 0.

Assuming that care has been taken to so locate the edges of the stripsto be imited .that the stitches made by the needle at its upper strokesjust overreach the upper edge of the two pieces as they lie side byside, the stitches made by the needle at its lower strokes are only atsufficient distance from the edge to insure against tearing of thefabric under ordinary strain, and in no case does it result in asegregation from the main body of each strip of such a volume of thefabric as to create a hump or ridge when it is laid flat upon the floor.

In the outer face of the inclosing casing 39 of the gear-wheel G is abutton, forming the head of an interfering pin or latch 42, which ishorizontally slidable in a groove 42 and which when moved to the outerlimit of its travel engages and holds down in its lowermost position thelever 27, so that as the needle-carrier continues to be reciprocated bythe lever T, as heretofore explained, its

reciprocation is possible only along the same plane, not in differentplanes at alternate reciprocations. This results in such a line ofstitches as is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 as distinguished from those shownin Figs. 4 and 5.

As the thread-feed, bobbin-holder 34, and

shuttle part 35 form no part of myinvention and as any one of severaldifierent' types are equally adaptable to a machine embodying myinvention, I do not attempt to-describe the same.

What I claim is 1. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with ayoke-shaped frame adapted to receive the edges of the pieces to beunited between the depending portions thereof, a stitch-formingmechanism, a driving gearwheel actuating said stitch-forming mechanism,said gear-wheel having one face provided with a cam portion, and a leverfulcrumed at one end to a portion of the frame and connected to andpartially supporting said stitch-forming mechanism with its other end,having a portion intermediate said ends adapted to be periodicallycontacted by the cam portion of said driving gear-wheel whereby theplane'of reciprocation of said stitchforming mechanism is changed aftereach reciprocation thereof, substantially as de scribed.

2. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with a yoke-shaped frameand a feedroller extending transversely of the open portion thereof andadapted to engage the upturned edges of the pieces to be united and byits rotation to advance the machine with respect thereto, a drivinggear-wheel for actuating the same, there being a cam portion on one faceof said driving gear-wheel, a stitchforming mechanism deriving itsactuation from said driving gear-wheel, and a lever pivotally connectedat one end to said frame and at the other end to said stitch-formingmechanism, and serving to partially support the same, having anintermediate portion adapted to be periodically engaged by the camportion of said driving gear-wheel, whereby said stitch-formingmechanism may be depressed from the position occupied by it with respectto the frame and the pieces of carpet on alternate strokes thereof,substantially as described.

3. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combi nation with a yoke-shaped frame,a feedroller adapted to engage the edges of the carpet inserted betweenthe parts of said frame and to advance the same therealong with respectto said edges, a driving gear-wheel adapted to actuate the same, oneface of said driving gear-wheel being formed as a cam, a stitch-formingmechanism also depending upon said driving gear-Wheel for its actuation, the needle carrying portion of said stitch-forming mechanism beingvertically movable with respect to said frame, and a lever pivoted atone end to a fixed portion of said frame and at the other to saidneedlecarrying part of the stitch-forming mechanism, the center portionof said lever being provided with a bearing projection adapted -to beperiodically engaged by the cam portion of said driving gear 'wheel toeffect a depression of the needle-carrying portion of saidstitch-forming mechanism after each alternate stroke, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with a yoke-shaped frameadapted to receive the edges of carpet between depending portionsthereof, a stitch-forming mechanism engaging transversely to the planeof the pieces of carpet inserted therebetween, a driving gear-wheeladapted for manual actuation, a complementary wheel meshing therewithwhereby the actuation imparted by said driving gear-wheel iscommunicated to the stitch forming mechanism, and a pivoted leverpartially supporting said stitchforming mechanism and adapted to beperiodically engaged by an irregular portion of said driving gear-wheeland horizontally displaced from its position with respect to the frameand the pieces of carpet after each alternate stroke of saidstitclrforming mechanism, substantially as described.

5. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination With a frame adapted toengage over the edges of the pieces of carpet to be united, a drivinggear-wheel provided with a cam portion on one surface, a feed-rolleradapted to positively engage the edges of the carpet and advance theframe therealong, a wheel meshing with said driving gear-wheel wherebythe actuation imparted by it is communicated to said feed-roller, asecond driven wheel meshing with said driving gear-wheel, astitch-forming mechanism receiving its actuation through said secondwheel, a part of said stitch-forming mechanism being vertically movablewith respect to the frame and the pieces of carpet, and a leversupporting said portion of the stitch-formim mech anism on one end andpivoted at its other end to the frame, having an intermediate portionadapted to be contacted by said cam portion of the driving gear-wheel ina way to depress the end attached to said stitch-forming portion aftereach alternate stroke of said stitchforming mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with a yoke-shaped frameand a feedroller for engaging the fabric inserted therein, a drivinggear-wheel, a wheel intermeshing therewith and mounted on the same shaftas the feed-roller for imparting motion to the shuttle mechanism, a cogwheel mounted on said shaft intermediate said intermeshing wheel and thefeed-roller and rigid with respect to said feed-roller, a second wheelalso meshing with said gear-wheel though axially perpendicular thereto,and a cap carried by said second wheel and engaging between successiveteeth of said cogwheel, substantially as described.

7. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with a yoke-shaped frameand a serrated feed-roller extending transversely of the open portion ofthe frame for advancing a fabric therethrough, a cog-wheel axially inalinement therewith and rigid with respect thereto, a wheel axiallyperpendicular thereto and having its periphery meshing therewith, anactuating gear-wheel therefor, a needlecarrier and needle, a runwaytherefor and a lever carrying said runway and carrier, and means carriedby said lever whereby upon its engagement with a portion of said gearwheel its position with reference to the rest of the machine is changed,substantially as described.

8. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with a frame adapted toengage over the edges of the pieces to be united, a lever pivoted at oneend thereto, a stitch-forming mechanism pivotally connected to andpartially supported by the other end of said lever, and a drivinggear-wheel adapted to actuate said stitch-forming mechanism and also toengage with an irregular portion of its surface the center portion ofsaid lever to effect the depression of that end which carries thestitch-forming mechanism after each alternate stroke thereof,substantially as de scribed.

9. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with a feed-roller forengaging the fabric and forcing the same therethrough,a wheel having abroken periphery meshing with a part thereof and a piece hinged thereto, adapted to complete the periphery thereof or to be dropped from theplane thereof at one end and to engage and actuate said feedroller uponthe rotation of the wheel, substantially as described.

10. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with means for engagingthe fabric and forcing the same past the sewing mechanism, a gear-wheelrigidly connected therewith, a wheel having a broken periphery meshingwith said gear-wheel and a piece hinged thereto and occupying the brokenportion thereof adapted to be dropped at one end from the plane of theremainder of the periphery and to engage and actuate said gear-wheel andfeed-roller, substantially as described.

11. In a carpet-sewing machine, in combination with a reciprocatingneedle-carrier arranged to bemoved from one plane to another after eachreciprocation, and means whereby said carrier is so actuated, a latchmember adapted to be moved into engagement with said carrier-actuatingmeans and to hold the same from movement or displacement from suchposition into another plane after reciprocation, substantially asdescribed.

12. In a carpet-sewing machine, the combination of a yoke-shaped frame,means for advancing fabric therethrough, a reciprocat ing needle-carriernormally arranged to be moved from one plane to another after eachreciprocation, and means normally out of engagement with a portion ofsaid actuating means and adapted to be manually slid into engagementtherewith to prevent the same from movement into another plane ofreciprocation after the completion of the stroke, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

DWIGHT W. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

ALroE TowNsEND, WILLIAM M. SWAN.

